Pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, is a structured program of interventions or care that a therapist provides to his patient, with the help or in the presence of an animal. It aims to maintain or improve the health of people suffering from various disorders, both physical and cognitive, psychological or social.

Pet therapy differs from what are called animal assisted activities (AAA) which are more intended to motivate, educate or entertain people. Unlike animal therapy, AAA, practiced in various contexts (therapeutic, school, prison or other), do not have specific therapeutic aims, even if they are beneficial for health. Although some AAA practitioners are health professionals, this is not an essential qualification, as is the case with animal therapy.

The main principles

According to several researchers, the therapeutic power of pet therapy derives from the human-animal relationship which contributes to increasing self-esteem and to meeting some of our psychological and emotional needs, such as those to feel loved “unconditionally”, to to feel useful, to have a connection with nature, etc.

Given the spontaneous sympathy that many people have towards animals, their presence is considered to be an important stress reduction factor, moral support to overcome a difficult moment (such as bereavement), as well as a means of come out of isolation and communicate your emotions.

It is also believed that the presence of the animal has a catalytic effect3 which can help to modify the behavior of the individual and serve as an instrument of projection. For example, as part of psychotherapy, it may be that a person who perceives sadness or anger in the gaze of the animal is actually projecting their own inner feeling onto it.

In animal therapy, the dog is very often used because of its obedient nature, the ease of transporting and training it, and also because in general people have sympathy for this animal. However, you can just as easily use a goldfish as a cat, farm animals (cow, pig, etc.) or a turtle! Depending on the needs of the zootherapist, some animals learn to perform particular movements or respond to specific commands.

The fact of having a pet is not strictly speaking animal therapy. We are dealing with it all the same in this sheet since many studies have shown the benefits that this can have on health: reduction of stress, better postoperative recovery, decrease in blood pressure, more optimistic perception of life, better socialization, etc. .

There are countless stories of animals, tame and wild, – from dogs to gorillas, from seagulls to elephants – which have found people and even saved lives without anyone being able to explain what is there. has pushed. We are talking about the extension of the survival instinct, of an unalterable affection for their “master” and even of something which could be closer to spirituality.

For many people, the presence of a pet can be a very important physical and psychological health factor4-13. From simple relaxation to the reduction of major stressors, including social support and better postoperative recovery, the benefits are numerous.

Encourage participant interaction

The presence of a dog during a group therapy session could promote interaction between participants16. Researchers studied video recordings of a group of 36 elderly men participating in weekly ½ hour group meetings for 4 weeks. A dog was present for half the time of the meetings. The presence of the animal increased the verbal interaction between the members of the group, and favored the installation of a climate of comfort and social interactions.

Relieve stress and promote relaxation

It seems that just being in contact with an animal or even just observing a goldfish in its aquarium has a calming and comforting effect. This would affect both physical and mental health. Several studies have reported on the various benefits associated with the presence of a domestic animal. Among other things, it has noted positive effects on the cardiovascular system, reduced stress, blood pressure and heart rate, and improved mood. So many people with depression, just at the idea of ​​imagining going to see their favorite animal, are invigorated. The results of a study on the sociological impact of a pet in a family context show that the animal brings family members together. Another study shows that the presence of an animal can be an effective stimulant to stay in shape, reduce anxiety and depressive states, and improve their ability to concentrate.

Contribute to the well-being of older people suffering from depression or loneliness

In Italy, a study has shown that pet therapy can have beneficial effects on the psychological well-being of the elderly. In fact, the pet therapy sessions helped reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety and improve the quality of life and mood of the participants. Another study has shown that pet therapy can help reduce feelings of loneliness in seniors staying in long-term care homes.

Lower blood pressure caused by stress

A few studies have attempted to demonstrate the effect of pet therapy on blood pressure. They focused on hypertensive subjects and others with normal blood pressure. In general, the results indicate that, compared to others, subjects who benefit from the presence of an animal have lower blood pressure and heart rate during rest. In addition, these baseline values ​​increase less under induced stress, and levels return to normal more quickly after stress. However, the results measured are not of great magnitude.

Contribute to the well-being of people with schizophrenia

Pet therapy can help improve the quality of life of people with schizophrenia. In a study of people with chronic schizophrenia, the presence of a dog during periods of planned activity reduced anhedonia (a loss of affectivity characterized by the inability to experience pleasure) and promoted better use of free time. Another study showed that 12 weeks of pet therapy could have positive effects on self-confidence, coping skills, and quality of life. Another found a clear improvement in socialization17.

Improve the quality of life of hospitalized people

In 2008, a systematic review showed that pet therapy can help create optimal healing environments41. It would promote, among other things, a certain harmony of body and mind, allow the difficulty of the situation to be forgotten for a while and reduce the perception of pain.

In 2009, another study showed that after visiting an animal, participants generally felt more calm, relaxed and upbeat. The authors conclude that pet therapy may decrease nervousness, anxiety, and improve the mood of hospitalized patients. Similar positive results were seen in a study of women with cancer receiving radiation therapy.

Improve the quality of life of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease

In 2008, two systematic reviews indicated that pet therapy could help reduce agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease. However, these benefits would cease as soon as the animal’s visits were interrupted.

In 2002, the results of another study showed a gain in body weight and a significant improvement in nutritional intake during the 6 weeks of the experiment. In addition, a decrease in the intake of nutritional supplements has been reported.

Decrease pain and fear during medical procedures

Two small-scale studies were carried out on young children hospitalized in 2006 and in 2008. The results suggest that animal therapy could constitute an interesting complement to the usual treatments for the control of post-surgical pain.

A small clinical trial carried out in 2003 attempted to demonstrate the beneficial effects of pet therapy in 35 patients suffering from mental disorders and requiring electroconvulsive therapy. Before treatment, they either received a visit from a dog and his handler or read magazines. The presence of the dog would have reduced fear by 37% on average compared to the control group.

The specialist

The zootherapist is a keen observer. He must have a good analytical mind and be attentive to his patient. He most often works in hospitals, retirement homes, detention centers …

Course of a session

Generally; the zootherapist talks with his patient in order to identify the objectives and the problem to be treated. The session lasts about 1 hour during which the activities can be very diverse: brushing, education, walk … The zootherapist will also try to learn about the feelings of his patient and help him to express his emotions.

Become a zootherapist

As the title of zootherapist is neither protected nor legally recognized, it can be difficult to distinguish zootherapists from other types of workers in animal-assisted activities. It is generally recognized that the zootherapist should initially have training in the field of health or the helping relationship (nursing care, medicine, physiotherapy, functional rehabilitation, occupational therapy, massage therapy, psychology, psychiatry, speech therapy, social work, etc. .). He should also have a specialization allowing him to intervene through animals. For their part, AAA workers (often volunteers) are not usually trained in animal therapy, while “zooanimateurs” have training in animal behavior, without being health professionals.

Contraindications of pet therapy

The positive effects of the presence of animals far outweigh the potential disadvantages. Although cases of disease transmission are infrequent, there are still some precautions to take44.

• First, in order to avoid the presence of parasites or zoonoses (animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans), it is important to take certain hygiene measures and to ensure that the animal is monitored regularly by a veterinarian.
• Second, given the possibilities of allergenic reactions, it is important to choose the type of animal carefully and to keep its environment clean.
• Finally, to avoid accidents such as bites, it is important to ensure that the animals are well trained and that they receive adequate health care.

The first writings2 on the therapeutic use of animals indicate that farm animals were used as complementary treatments in patients suffering from psychiatric disorders. However, it was the nurses who implemented the practice in a hospital environment. Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing techniques, was one of the pioneers in the use of animals to improve the quality of life of patients. During the Crimean War (1854-1856), she kept a turtle in the hospital because she knew, from having observed the behavior of animals since her childhood, that they had the power to comfort people and to decrease their anxiety.

His contribution has been recognized by the American psychiatrist Boris M. Levinson, who is considered to be the father of pet therapy. During the 1950s, he was one of the first to report the merits of the use of pets in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Nowadays, zootherapy as well as activities including the presence of an animal are found in a variety of therapeutic settings.